The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF
Buddhism for Liberation and Social Action. We invite teachers from all schools of Buddhism to offer their perspectives on the dharma and its application in modern times, especially for LGBTQIA audiences.
Produced by GBF - The Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco.
Episodes
861 episodes
The 4 Immeasurables in Song - Jennifer Berezan
How can we make the Four Immeasurables (aka the Brahmavihārās or divine abodes) more present in our daily lives? In this talk, Jennifer Berezan explores these four virtues—loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimi...
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Season 29
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Episode 32
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54:14
Somatic Meditation: The Anatomy of Practice - David Moreno
In this departure from our usual dharma talks, David Moreno guides us in weaving sitting practice with the Tantric practice of Yoga Nidra and the energetic practice of Qi Gong. These processes augment and integrate meditation into moving...
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Season 29
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Episode 31
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1:09:50
Boundless Loving-Kindness (Metta) - Dave Richo
How can we continue to stretch our sense of loving-kindness to include all beings?In this talk, Dave Richo explores the practice of loving-kindness (metta) in Buddhism, emphasizing its expansive nature. Using an an...
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Season 29
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Episode 30
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48:42
Joy & Compassion in the Face of Overwhelm - JD Doyle
When the world gets to be a little too much for us, how can we keep from shutting down?JD Doyle shares that the key lies in returning to our interconnectedness. JD ties this beautifully with the practice of the brahmavihara...
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Season 29
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Episode 29
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47:28
Intimacy with Yourself - Daigan Gaither
How can we become truly present and engage with each moment we experience?In both interpersonal relationships and self-reflection, Daigan Gaither advocates for an open, curious approach where we allow things to be as they a...
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Season 29
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Episode 28
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51:02
The Role of Pleasure in Our Practice - René Rivera
Can turning away from pleasurable experiences actually limit our practice?In this talk René Rivera shares that there are wholesome states that signal we are on the path to awakening. However the pleasurable states often get a "bad rap" ...
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Season 29
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Episode 16
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53:32
Gay Sexuality and Buddhist Dharma - Eric Kolvig
How can we reconcile our sexuality with Buddhist practice? (Recorded June 11, 1995)Following on the heels of the AIDS crisis, in 1995 societal shame about LGBTQ sexuality was quite prevalent. Eric Kolvig emphasiz...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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52:32
Waking Up to the Nature of Reality - David Lewis
What did the Buddha mean when he spoke of ignorance?In this talk, David Lewis discusses the essence of mindfulness and the core principles of Buddhism, emphasizing direct experience over intellectual understanding. He explains th...
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Season 29
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Episode 27
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53:59
No Way Out? - Steven Tierney
When we feel stuck or overwhelmed by society, how can we find joy and courage?Steven Tierney asks us to challenge the notion that we are stuck with no way out. He emphasizes that rather than avoid the difficult, we can find...
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Season 29
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Episode 26
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55:30
Am I "Buddhist?" Donald Rothberg
What core Buddhist teachings are reflected in all other wisdom traditions? As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply becaus...
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Season 29
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Episode 25
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57:41
Seven Secrets to Connecting with Others - Michaiel Patrick Bovenes
As spiritual beings grounded in oneness, how do we overcome the tendency to feel separated while in human form?In this practical talk, Michaiel Patrick Bovenes shares reminders for finding connection.Connecting with others ...
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Season 29
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Episode 24
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54:37
The Sacred Tapestry of Your Life - Dorothy Hunt
If we are an expression of the whole, why does life feel so personal? In a talk that examines duality, Dorothy Hunt asks us who and what we really are. Is our awareness something that belongs to us as a separate 'me', or is...
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Season 29
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Episode 23
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1:03:22
A Bridge Over Troubled Water - Laura Burges
How can we use our practice to see us through troubled times and remain a light against the darkness? Laura Burges encourages us to see Buddhist practice as a laboratory, a place to experiment with our own experience. Draw...
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Season 29
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Episode 23
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54:40
The Brahma Vihāras (Divine Abodes) - Walt Opie
The divine abodes, also known as the Brahma Vihāras in Sanskrit, are four supreme emotions or mental states that are emphasized because of the Buddha's teaching that "whatever one frequently ponders on, that will become the inclination...
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Season 29
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Episode 22
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56:37
The Truth of Old Age, Sickness, Death and Awakening - Bob Stahl
How have the Four Heavenly Messengers led you to the path of the dharma? In this talk, Bob Stahl shares his own experience with these messengers and how they changed the course of his life in the midst of being a very confused yo...
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Season 29
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Episode 21
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52:17
Gay Pride and Our Ordinary Life - Liên Shutt
Can we find meaning and pride in our ordinary lives? In this talk, Liên Shutt contrasts the extravagant events in our lives with the everyday moments and asks us to consider if we can drop our expectations of how things should be...
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Season 29
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Episode 20
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57:54
The Pure Love of Metta - John Martin
How can we cultivate an undefended heart that is open and caring? John Martin shares that the true nature of our heart is inherently pure and loving. However, we need to practice to cultivate this purity. Some of the...
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Season 29
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Episode 19
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53:03
Loneliness - Melvin Escobar
In this talk, Melvin Escobar looks at the loneliness and separation prevalent in our world. Especially for LGBTQI individuals, this has roots in both the individual level as well as the structural level, such as the way fami...
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Season 29
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Episode 18
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51:12
The Thousand Natural Shocks - Laura Burges
How can Buddhist philosophy help us address the everyday suffering we encounter in a human body - the accidents, falls, missteps, mistakes, broken bones and broken hearts? In this talk, Laura Burges recounts her own experience fo...
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Season 29
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Episode 17
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48:45
Awakened Fearlessness - Dale Borglum
How can our relationship with fear deepen our practice?In this rich talk, Dale Borglum explains that in fear, we are separated from our feeling of unity. Yet, all true contemplative traditions teach that the end of the spiritu...
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Season 29
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Episode 15
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55:02
Wise Speech in Difficult Times - Tom Baker
Why is wholesome speech one of the hardest precepts to navigate?In this talk, Tom Baker explores the many nuances of wise conversation, including:The ways our words cause sufferingThe intoxicating aspect of s...
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Season 29
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Episode 14
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47:24
The Dance of Change - Syra Smith
What is humanity's relationship to change?In this talk, Syra Smith shares her thoughts on impermanence, leading with this quote: "Change is the thread woven through the fabric of Human existence, a constant force shaping our ...
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Season 29
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Episode 13
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51:14
Living Our Practice - Kevin Griffin
What does it mean to "be Buddhist?"In his signature honest and humorous style, Kevin Griffin enriches this powerful and practical talk with numerous examples and approaches to making the dharma real in our everyday lives.
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Season 29
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Episode 12
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47:09
